European Court Rejects Audi Trademark

Law360, New York (December 3, 2003, 12:00 AM EST) -- The European Court of First Instance in Luxembourg Wednesday rejected a bid by German car maker Audi to register TDI as a trademark.

The abbreviation "TDI," which commonly appears on the back of cars, stand for "Turbo Diesel Injection" or "Turbo Direct Injection.”

The judges concluded that there is a sufficiently direct and specific link between the word mark "TDI" and the essential characteristics of the categories of goods and services for which registration was sought.